Ralph Terry, R.I.P.

Former MLB pitcher and pro golfer Ralph Terry, perhaps best known for surrendering the game winning HR to Bill Mazerowski in Game 7 of the 1960 World Series against the Pittsburgh Pirates, passed away yesterday at the age of 86. Terry succumbed to complications of a head injury which he sustained when he fell on ice on New Year's Eve.

A native of Oklahoma, Terry signed with the New York Yankees following the 1953 season and would reach the big club in 1956. In June 1957, the Yankees shipped Terry to the Kansas City A's in a trade which included Billy Martin and would see Ryne Duren join the Bronx Bombers. At that time, the A's were a de facto Triple AAA affiliate of the Yankees where they would send bad influences like Martin and not ready for prime time pitchers like Terry. However, the trade was something of a homecoming as Terry attended college at the University of Kansas City. 

With more big league experience under his belt, the Yankees brought Terry back during the middle of the 1959 season. Terry would pitch in five consecutive World Series for the Bronx Bombers between 1960 to 1964. Despite giving up the HR to Mazeroski to end the 1960 World Series, Terry had a breakout season in 1961 going 16-3 with a 3.15 ERA earning his first World Series ring.

Terry would have an even better year in 1962 when he led the AL with 23 wins and 298.2 inning pitched and would earn the only AL All-Star Team selection of his career. His '62 season was capped off with not only another World Series ring but a World Series MVP, Terry went 2-1 with a 1.80 ERA fanning 16 batters in 25 innings pitched capped off by a complete game four hit shutout in Game 7. However, instead of remembering Terry's stellar pitching most fans remember Yankees second baseman Bobby Richardson's spectacular catch off Willie McCovey's bat to end the Series. It would be the Yankees' last World Series title for 15 years. 

Although Terry slipped to 17-15 in 1963, he still had a respectable 3.22 ERA and led the league in starts and complete games. However, despite another World Series appearance, Terry struggled in 1964 with a 7-11 mark with a 4.54 ERA. Following the season, the Yankees dealt Terry to the Cleveland Indians. Terry would have a decent campaign with the Tribe in 1965 going 11-6 with a 3.69 ERA. Terry would return to Kansas City at the beginning of the 1966 season only to end up back in New York - this time with the Mets. He would retire after the 1967 season. In 12 big league seasons, Terry went 107-99 with a 3.62 ERA striking out exactly 1000 batters while walking only 446. 

Following his baseball career, Terry spent many years competing as professional golfer on the PGA Circuit and PGA Senior Circuit. Terry was also fixture at Old Timer's Day at Yankee Stadium. I leave you with an interview Terry did on the day he was inducted into the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame in 2015. R.I.P.